Non-Immigrant Visas
MANDATORY USE OF COURIER FOR ISSUED VISAS
Starting April 1, 2009, the Non-Immigrant Visa section will return all passports with issued visas via a fee-for-service courier available in our waiting room. Individuals are strongly encouraged to apply for visas well in advance of their proposed dates of travel to allow sufficient time for courier processing. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non-refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued and the passport is received by the traveler.
Application Process
1. Pay the Visa Application Fee
Nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay their application fee before their visa interview at any Piraeus Bank, which has branch offices throughout Greece. Applicants must present their valid passports to the bank at the time of payment. The nonimmigrant visa application fee is currently $131, which is 99.56 euros at the current exchange rate. Piraeus Bank only accepts payment in euros at this time. Once paid, the receipt is good for one year from date of issuance regardless of changes in the exchange rate.
On the day of the visa interview, applicants must bring a paid duplicate receipt from a Piraeus Bank that shows the applicant's name as it appears in the passport. Receipts are not transferable between applicants. The fee cannot be refunded, even if it is determined that the applicant is not qualified for a visa. The closest branches of Piraeus Bank to the U.S. Embassy are located: 1) Mavili Square, 2) Kolonaki Square, 3) 157 Michalakopoulou Street, Zografou, 4) 70-72 Panormou Street, near the Panormou metro station, 5) 41 Kifissias Avenue, Ambelokipi.
Please note that applicants from the following visa categories are exempt from the $131 visa processing fee:
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Applicants for A, G, C-3, NATO, diplomatic visas and J visas with a program number starting with G on the DS-2019.
2. Do you need an Appointment?
According to US regulations all applicants between the ages of 14-79 must be interviewed and have their biometrics captured. To do so, you must book an appointment. If the visa is approved, it will be sent through a courier service. Visas cannot be issued on the same day.
Please proceed to Step 3 “Schedule an appointment for your interview”.
The American Embassy provides a drop-off service for non-immigrant visas without an appointment and interview for specific categories of applicants described below. These applicants must be physically present in the consular district, be a Greek national and bearer of a Greek passport. The days and hours this service is available is from Monday to Friday between 12 – 1 p.m. except Greek and American holidays.
The categories are the following:
- Applicants under 14 and over 80 years of age bearing Greek passports. Applicants or another person on their behalf can submit their documents and passport. The applicant must sign his/her application as well as the passport.
- Applicants of all ages who are bearers of diplomatic or official passports whose application is accompanied by a note verbal issued by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. Complete the Application Forms
5. Gather the Required Supporting Documentation
7. Arrange for Delivery of Passport
Passports with non-immigrant visas issued by the Embassy can only be returned to travelers via a fee-for-service courier, Courier Center, available in our waiting room. Passport pick-up from the Embassy is no longer available. Travelers will make their own delivery arrangements with the contracted company at the Embassy after their visas have been approved. Courier Center will deliver passports for a fee of Euro 4.20 in the Attiki region or Euro 7.00 for delivery to any other address in mainland Greece or the islands. Courier Center provides on-line tracking of deliveries and 24-hour customer service by telephone. Visit www.courier.gr.
Individuals are strongly encouraged to apply for visas well in advance of their proposed dates of travel to allow sufficient time for processing and courier delivery. Final travel plans or the purchase of non-refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued and the passport is received by the traveler.
Average waiting time for the interview process is three (3) hours.
Some visa applications require additional administrative processing, which may require some additional time
